It has been determined that insulation failure of active electrode surgical probes (bipolar and monopolar) is one of the major reasons why patients receive electrosurgical burns to unintended tissues. Even the smallest hole in the insulation of the probe will endanger the patient’s safety since the escaping electrical energy will usually cause burns to the patient outside of the surgeon’s view.  ONLY visually inspecting the integrity of the probe’s insulation will often miss the small holes and cracks that occur.